A chilling reality unfolds in Kyiv, where the bitter winter has become a relentless struggle for its residents. 'Everything is frozen,' echoes through the city, a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those enduring the Russian invasion.
Natalya Pavlovna, a young mother, finds solace in watching her son, Danylo, play with Lego inside a warm tent. This temporary refuge offers a brief escape from the harsh -18°C temperatures outside, where sunshine and snow create a picturesque yet treacherous landscape.
'Russia is trying to break us,' Natalya asserts, her voice filled with determination. She believes it's a deliberate act of genocide, aimed at forcing Ukraine to surrender the Donbas region. Kyiv, once a vibrant city, now feels like a frontline, with people dying from the cold in their own homes. 'The idea is to make us leave, to create a refugee crisis for Europe,' she explains, highlighting the strategic intent behind the attacks.
Natalya's apartment is one of 2,600 buildings in Kyiv without power or heating. The Kremlin's relentless bombing of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has targeted substations, thermal power plants, and even rescue workers, leaving the country's electricity network in tatters.
But here's where it gets controversial... Russia's recent onslaught has coincided with one of the coldest winters in decades, causing further devastation. Ballistic missiles have reduced the Darnytska combined heat and power plant to rubble, leaving Kyiv with frequent blackouts and restricted electricity supply.
Natalya draws a parallel between Vladimir Putin's aerial campaign and the 1932-33 famine in Soviet Ukraine, engineered by Stalin. The similarity in the Ukrainian words, 'holodomor' (extermination by starvation) and 'kholodomor' (death by cold), is a chilling reminder of history repeating itself. 'Putin wants to do to Kyiv what he did to Mariupol,' she says, her voice filled with fear and determination.
The impact on families and children is immense, as Toby Fricker from Unicef explains. In Kyiv, 45% of schools are closed due to a lack of central heating, disrupting education and social life for kids and teenagers. Some mothers are considering fleeing abroad, seeking cheaper accommodation in countries like Bulgaria, Egypt, and Greece, while others, like Yuliia, are torn between leaving and staying with their parents.
Residents have resorted to ingenious hacks to keep warm. Power banks, camping gear, gas cylinders, and generators are a common sight outside offices and shops, a rumbling reminder of the city's resilience. Some heat bricks and rocks over gas stoves, while others erect tents inside their living rooms. Cafes have become popular refuges, offering a temporary escape from the cold.
Julia Po, an artist, invites us into her seventh-floor home in Kyiv's Dniprovskyi neighborhood. With no electricity, the building is a dark and chilly place. Frozen water pipes burst, causing floods, and a chill wind whispers through the slatted panels. Po has insulated her home with bubble wrap, wrapping walls, windows, and even her ficus plant to reduce drafts. She sleeps under two blankets, wearing thermal underwear and a hoodie, but the cold seeps in from below.
Her cat, named after Radiohead's Thom Yorke, sleeps under a blanket in a cupboard. Po, originally from Russian-occupied Crimea, feels dispossessed. 'It's as if someone has stolen my home,' she says, reflecting on the similarities between the current situation and the events of 2022. 'I've been through depression, aggression, acceptance, and a degree of irony. It's not pleasant, but it's our reality.'
The artist acknowledges her privilege, having a gas stove and a boiler, while some of her neighbors struggle to afford extra equipment. Pensioners are particularly vulnerable, often trapped in their flats with no means to stay warm. At least 10 people have died from hypothermia, and over 1,400 have been hospitalized. Russian attacks on power facilities continue, with strikes in Kyiv and the battered southern city of Odesa.
Maxim Timchenko, head of the energy provider DTEK, paints a dire picture. Moscow has wiped out 80% of his company's power generation capacity, leaving Ukraine in survival mode. 'We are not talking about an energy crisis; it's a humanitarian and national crisis,' he says. Only one out of five DTEK power plants is currently connected to the grid, and repairs are challenging due to the freezing temperatures.
Timchenko calls for urgent international help, emphasizing the need for additional air defenses, ammunition, and an energy ceasefire. Kyiv has become the main target, and the city has lost all sources of power generation. 'We are doing everything we can to keep the economy alive,' he adds.
Oleh Yaruta, a DTEK engineer, repairs an underground power cable, a critical task amidst the overloaded and damaged power grid. When asked about Russians, his response is stark: 'They are devils and orcs. They are bombing because they can't conquer us.'
As the week progresses, some left bank buildings regain electricity, offering a glimmer of hope. Natasha Naboka shares a heartwarming story of bonding with her daughter, Sofiia, and their Yorkshire terrier, Bonya, during the cold nights. 'We were together under one blanket, and Bonya wore a jacket,' she recalls. Sofiia's school closure turned into an adventure for her.
With no working fridge, Naboka leaves food on her balcony, and she washes clothes by hand, taking them to her workplace, a beauty parlour with better power supply, to dry. During air raids, she and Sofiia take shelter in the corridor, hiding between two walls. Her husband, a soldier, is stationed in Kharkiv oblast, another region suffering from power breakdowns.
Some Kyiv residents criticize the city authorities for failing to protect infrastructure, while others, like Naboka, blame the Russians for their failed attempt at a quick seizure of Ukraine. 'This is all about the jealousy and unhealthy ambition of one man,' she says, referring to Putin.
The situation in Kyiv is a stark reminder of the resilience and strength of its residents, who face a bitter winter with courage and ingenuity. As the world watches, the question remains: How much longer can they endure this chilling reality?
